The Beginning
Sweat trickled down her chin as Caeldori shoved the butt of her handmade naginata into the torso of her enemy. As she pulled the end back towards her she repositioned her feet to better withstand an oncoming jab. Changing the grip on her weapon she swung the pole around. Swiftly parrying a strike to her left shoulder with the curvature of the blade before skipping back to avoid a blow to her shins. Holding her distance Caeldori circled her enemy as she awaited their next move. Her opponent feinted a strike to her head before striking downward. Not anticipating the low strike Caeldori was to slow to move out of the weapon's reach as it slammed into her left shin. Stifling a cry she growled at her enemy. Drawing back to stand in a middle stance her opponent held the naginata in-line with their hip. Caeldori did the same. She watched closely as her opponent drew their pole over their head. Now. Before her enemy could strike Caeldori thrusted the sharp point at her opponent's exposed throat. Staggering back her opponent lost their balance before dropping their naginata and landing on their backside. Planting her feet together Caeldori held her naginata in her right hand as she waited for her opponent to do the same before bowing to end their bout.
"Well done Matoi-chan." A deep voice sang in her ears
Taking off her helmet Caeldori bowed deeply at the man who had been observing the sparing match. "Thank you Sensei." She replied with gratitude as she stood straight. The man she beheld was tall and slender. A nicely trimmed beard contrasted with his long black hair which dangled around his shoulders. Golden eyes pierced through a veil of hair that covered the left side of his face. The black yukata he wore was emblazoned with fiery red flames that brought out the tone of his muscles. If he weren't married she would have given in to her attraction to him. The man continued on his critique.
"You're agility has improved since the last bout. However, you must see through their exterior and find their true intentions. Learn from their rhythms and movements. Like a dancer with her music. Or a leaf in the wind. You must learn to flow with the waves around you."
"Yes Sensei." Caeldori regarded as she contemplated on the true meaning of the words.
"Karui-chan." The man gestured to the person Caeldori had been sparring with.
"Yes Father?" Karui replied as she took off her helmet, allowing her lustrous black hair to cascade down her shoulders, before bowing.
"You displayed potential by using the correct techniques. Managing to strike at Matoi's sune. But overuse of a technique will allow for unintended consequences. You must also learn to create your own music. Form the rhythm for the dancer. The wind for the leaf." The man gestured at both students this time. "Now. I believe a feast is in order. So, please take your leave and join us at the pavilion."
"Yes Father." Karui acknowledged.
A feast. Its only mid-morning. And normally Sensei would never call himself us. Before she could rethink her question Caeldori dumbfoundedly blurted, "Us?"
"You will understand when you see him, Matoi-chan." The black-haired man replied. "Go wash your spirit, it will need to relax after an intense training session."
Wanting to know more but knowing she would be only given the same cryptic message Caeldori relented. Acknowledging her teacher Caeldori left with Karui to go relax in the Hot Springs.
Placing her towel on a nearby rock Caeldori strutted towards the pool of steamy water in her red and white bathing suit. Karui had already beaten her there. She wore a lavender bathing suit laced with golden petals as she rested her back against the spring wall. Placing her foot slowly into the hot spring Caeldori sighed as she slipped into the warm embrace of the steaming water. She closed her eyes as she felt the water rejuvenate her sore muscles. Relaxing and healing them. After moments passed Caeldori opened her eyes and looked toward the black haired woman across her.
"Do you know what your father meant when he said, join us at the pavilion?" She asked. Caeldori watched as Karui's face tilted slightly to the right signalling that she was in thought.
"I remember father mentioning having guests over a couple nights ago but other than that I don't know who they will be."
Guests not guest. It couldn't be him then.
"But, I know what you're thinking. Who was father talking about when he said 'him'. Well, I thought about it and you know it just might be that gorgeous hunter you fawned over awhile back." Karui teased as she gave Caeldori a wide grin making her feel somewhat insecure as she remembered the hunter who they had healed when he stumbled into the Deeprealms after being attacked by a pack of wolves. He had thanked them and even gave Caeldori a kiss on the back of her hand before he left to go back to his home. Her cheeks burned but not from the heat in the room as the thought struck her dumb.
"No! It w-wouldn't be him." Caeldori managed to fluster out to a now chuckling Karui. "Hey! Why are you laughing at me?"
The black haired girl held her hand up to tell Caeldori to wait for her fit to subside. "I-it's just that every s-single guy you seem to get a-attracted to either never comes back or is already e-engaged." She stammered before letting loose another fit of mock laughter.
"Hey! That's not even funny!" Caeldori exclaimed, perplexed that her friend found her predicament to be a comedy. "You're one to talk you don't even have a boyfriend yourself."
"Okay. Okay. I'm sorry." Karui apologised as she held her arms up in defence, "At least I don't fall in love as quickly as you do."
"Oh, be quiet you."
A long moment passed before the black-haired girl continued, "If it's any consolation I think you would make the perfect girlfriend for someone… one day."
"I feel the same for you Karui."
Just as Caeldori made her reply to her friend's comment a bell rang off in the distance to signal the arrival of the invited guests. Looking at each other both girls scrambled out of the hot spring to grab their towels.
"I'll beat you there!" Karui challenged.
"Sure you will." Caeldori replied sarcastically to accept the challenge as she sprinted ahead of the black haired girl to get to her room.
Looking at the mirror in her room Caeldori saw a young woman with ruby red hair look back at her. She wore a simple white frolic dress covered in azure blue flowers interwoven with forest green vines. Hearing a knock at the door an all too familiar voice called out, "Caeldori are you ready yet? You know I can't walk over there by myself. Father would berate me afterwards." Stifling a chuckle Caeldori told her to wait as she fastened a blue rose pin on her headband. Sliding the door open Caeldori walked out of her room to see Karui wearing a violet vintage corset.
"Do you ever wear anything other than purple?" Caeldori asked.
"You know full well that I don't." Karui smirked as she walked toward the garden, Caeldori in tow.
As they neared the pavilion they could hear the laughter and chatter before they saw the vast amount of people who sat at the pavilion. Karui walked passed all the guests as she tried to find her father. As Caeldori followed her she couldn't imagine the vast amount of weapons that had been neatly placed on the weapons rack on the side of the dining pavilion. Swords and katana, spears and naginata, daggers and shuriken, bows and staves of all sorts were positioned in their respective racks. Caeldori had never seen such a big collection of weapons. These people must be mercenaries or part of an army to have so many weapons, she thought. But before she could think anymore a red-haired man who was talking to Karui's father drew her attention making her pause in shock.
"It is good to see you my friend. I see the Deeprealms haven't affected your body as much as it would others." The man greeted as he hugged Karui's father
"Ah, but you forget that I have been using magic to keep me this way. Allowing my body to age at the same pace I would back home."
"True. It's been so long since I was last in the Deeprealms. How peaceful it is. And how are you Karui? You have grown since last we met." The perfect skinned man gestured to Karui
"Thank you Senpai. It is good to see you." She replied as she bowed her head
The man's eyes hovered around the pavilion desperately searching for something as he asked, "Now then wear is my daughter?"
Just as he finished his question Caeldori broke from her reverie. "F-father!" she stammered before giving the red-haired man a compassionate hug which he returned. "Welcome back" she managed to say as she fought back tears of joy.
"Caeldori, my dear! You've grown even more beautiful while I've been away."
The blood rushed to Caeldori's cheeks as she looked up at her father, "Goodness. Please, father. You're embarrassing me."
"Do I dote too much? You've been well, I hope?" her father asked caringly.
"Yes, of course. I've kept up with every aspect of my training and studies thanks to Sensei Onoichi and Karui." She replied giddily as she let go of her father. "And in my spare time I have memorised several books on war strategy."
"Impressive. Aiming for perfection, are we?" her father mock teased.
"I'm aiming for capable. I've never seen real combat yet…" She trailed.
"Take your time. The reason my friends and I are at war is to end war. Now, I think the food is getting cold we should eat."
Caeldori agreed and sat next to Karui as their parents talked amongst each other. As she took a bite of her favourite dish Teriyaki-glazed salmon she couldn't help but watch as a white-haired man with blood-red eyes sit at the head of the table. Nudging her father she politely asked him who the man was.
"Oh, that's Prince Corrin he leads our army. He is very talented himself you might learn a few things from him."
As she watched the prince Caeldori felt a slight tug in her chest. He seems interesting enough. As they continued their feast a band started to accompany the feast as a blue haired woman sang for them. Her voice was serene and angelic and Caeldori felt amazed by her vocal capacity. After the songstress finished her performance a loud round of applause congratulated her on the entertainment. This is turning out to be a fun day. But her fun was about to change. Midway through their feast a soldier ran into the pavilion taking a breath before bowing to the white haired prince at the end of the table.
"Reporting, Prince Corrin." The soldier stated. "Urgent news from the other side. Invisible soldiers are attacking a village as we speak."
Hi everyone. So this is going to be a Corrin and Caeldori fanfic. Yes, I know. There's not much Corrin but these first few chapters will just be a prologue to introduce Caeldori as a person. Because I think she's more complex than just being a perfectionist. Oh and in this story Subaki married Severa/Selena.
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters and all rights go to the awesome team at Intelligent Systems.